Natural farming summit - Art of living

Many farmers and innovators in farming system across country and even across globe participated at 'Natural farming summit' at Art of living international centre,Bangalore. Since we have been an associates of Art of living for beekeeping at their farms, I had an opportunity to address regarding significance of beekeeping in natural farming to improve productivity and saving our pollinators.It was a short and sweet presentation which is appreciated by many.

Beekeeping introduction to farmers at 'Belevala farm', Mysore

An introduction about beekeeping and pollination provided to farmers of mysore,mandya,ramanagara. Most of the farmers are organic growers and beekeeping is one of an important aspect to maintain balance in micro ecosystem of the particular farm/plantation. Belavala farm's Director Dr.Ramakrishnappa explained about concept of 'ecological farming' which means understanding of ecology in agriculture. It was very interesting to know that how one particular plant can support whole major crop by inviting micro nutrients and providing required climatic conditions as if like a mother's care on her infant. Belavala farm is a symbol of perseverance and strong belief on 'organic farming'.And honey bees will play an important role to maintain ecological balance at belavala farm.

   

Training and supply of Beekeeping equipment to Jenu kuruba tribal community at Chamarajanagar District

'Jenu Kuruba' means 'Honey gatherers' - a tribal community which involved in gathering/hunting honey in forests.On December 7th 2016, 'The Hive' along with Directorate of extension,University of agriculture sciences,Bangalore provided training on scientific method of beekeeping with Apis Cerana bee species. And through integrated farming system(IFS) project, we supplied bee boxes and honey extractors to the tribal people so that they can capture Apis cerana colonies from forest in to the box and start beekeeping.  We are hoping to induce more compassion and patience in this tribal society in order to convert these honey hunters to beekeepers for their sustainable livelihood. 

Apoorva from 'The Hive', Dr.Vijay Kumar,Dr.Sanjay and Mr.shashi from UAS,Bangalore

"Save the bees else cease to be"

6 children  from Greenwood high international school - Akshay, Sahana, Rachita, Ratan, Aditya Vasisht and Aditya U are participating in an international competition conducted by First Lego League USA. Every year they are involved in a project which is based on real life problems. They are required to research a topic, present their findings to a larger public and also come up with solutions and implement them. This year their project is titled as Animal allies- how are animals our friends and how are we dependent on them. 

They have chosen bees as their topic of research. Their research lead them to understanding how bees are the world's greatest pollinators and how several industries are dependent on bee pollination- examples are the oil seed industry, cotton industry, diary industry, agricultural industry, cosmetic industry etc. They have come to understand how several kinds of vegetables and fruits will be deprived of pollination if bees becomes extinct. They have extensively researched on the causes for colony collapse disorder and have had discussions as to how to increase bee population.

 They have visited back yard bee keepers,as well as an apiary which has triggered in them a respect and love for these creatures. They even got to handle bee frames (during their apiary visit) filled with bees without even wearing gloves!

The children as part of spreading the message, want to educate people that bees are not pests but are our winged friends without whom life on earth will surely be affected. They have conducted a campaign called as "Save the bees else cease to be". They distributed pamphlets and explained to several people during their campaign about the importance of bees and how it is important to take several measures to save them.

Many apartment dwellers were curious to know about back yard bee keeping as well as safe ways to remove bee hives. The children patiently addressed their queries and at the end of their campaign have raised enough money to buy a bee box. The proceeds will go to Hive trust and in association with them, they want to pass the message forward. 

They will educate and adopt one farm/ orchard grower at a time and enable them to practice back yard bee keeping. This will slowly but surely spread awareness, enable an increase in agricultural yield as well as an increase in the bee population. They strongly believe that strict laws have to be enforced to protect the bees. 

They will also write a petition to end use of certain fumigators used to smoke out bee hives and also to end use of certain pesticides and insecticides which are the leading causes of colony collapse disorder. Every step they believe will make a difference to the bees and to our own lives in this planet.

They have collected funds to donate 'The Hive Trust' by selling these beautiful handmade cakes of honey bee theme along with Honey harvested by beekeepers in humane way.

Beekeeping workshop for tribal communities of Joida, Uttara Kannada District

Beekeeping for tribal  livelihood and curfew night

Joida is a small taluk of Uttara Kannada district which is an evergreen forest patch of western ghats in Karnataka. Beekeeping is always a beautiful option for tribal communities who stay in forest areas.

On 13th September, curfew situation arrived and 14th was committed to beekeeping workshop. 

After kindling interest in 200 siddhi, kunbi tribal men and women about beekeeping, it was worth taking risk to pass through a curfew night from Bangalore.I have been travelling to dandeli and Uttara kannada since 2009.  

Beekeeping will give a sustainable income generation to the tribal people thus decreasing the dependence over forest's minor resources and violent honey hunting which will kill bee colonies. Honey hunting will lead to decrease in pollinators of western ghats which will harm pollination process to the forest flora.Pollination of forest plants and trees are very important to maintain food chain in its ecosystem.

Sensitizing about existence of honey bees is a need of hour.And it should be done to Urban,rural and also tribal societies.Honey bees play very important role in pollination of food crops as well as forest flora. 

-Apoorva B V

Deputy conservator of Forests,Tahasildar, Executive officer TP, Assistant director,Agriculture department, Director,Green India, Kunbi society leaders 

  

14 hives from 'The Hive'

Beekeeping promotion by donating 14 Bee hive Boxes to 14 villages

09-08-2016,GKVK,UAS,Bangalore

There is a need for promoting beekeeping in karnataka. The way we are going ahead without knowing the importance of honey bees in our agricultural practices will cost a heavy loss in the future.A creative thought arrived when University of Agricultural Sciences,Bangalore planned an awareness program in 14 villages through department of extension and students, 'The Hive Trust' also thought of joining hands with that thought and donated 14 boxes to 14 villages belonging to Bangalore rural and Ramanagara districts.We have planned to expand this to more villages in the near future.

Agriculture students are staying in the villages to understand farmers' need and requirement of advanced agricultural techniques. Bee pollination is an integral part of agriculture and awareness about beekeeping and bee pollination is a need of hour.

Apoorva B V, Chairman of the Hive Trust, H.Shivanna,Vice Chancellor UAS,Bangalore,Director of extension UAS,Bangalore

Farmers of Bangalore rural and Ramanagara districts

Professors and Scientists of UAS,Bangalore

Featured in 'The Economic Times'

The Hive is featured in today's 'The Economic Times'. We would like to spread more awareness about existence of Honey Bees in our ecosystem. We would also want to convey one important message to all pest control companies in Bengaluru that 'BEES ARE NOT PESTS'. We would like to promote Urban Beekeeping in Bengaluru to protect pollinators because honey bees are required not only for the pollination of food based agricultural and horticultural crops, they are also required to pollinate plants and trees in Forest areas.

-Apoorva